Veikkausliiga week 15 - HJK thwarted, Inter blank

After a break for Midsummer, and the excitement of the draw for European competition, domestic football returned on Monday evening. A low scoring round, but important in the shape of the league table.

Honka 2-0 MYPA

Fresh from drawing Lech Poznan in the Europa League qualifiers, Honka moved back to joint top of the table, but they left it late against resolute MYPA.

Honka celebrate

A fortuitous goal from Tim Väyrynen after 77 minutes, and a 92nd minute strike from Kastriot Kastrarti, moved Honka level with HJK, and condemned MYPA to a second consecutive win, and a third game without a win.

Highlights of Honka 2-0 MYPA

Honka are now second, albeit level on points with HJK. They have 27 points from 15 games, and a goal difference of +3. MYPA are sixth, fourteen points from 20 games.

HJK 0-0 Jaro

HJK lost a chance to retain a clear lead at the top, thanks in part to an inspired performance from Jaro keeper Jesse Öst. The HJK players were astounded at how Öst kept them at bay, and frustated them. HJK's Nikolai Alho said after the game "Its not even physically possible to miss so many chances in 90 mins."

Öst thwarts Pohjanpalo

A number of brave, agile and sharp saves kept Jaro in the game - and while HJK will kick themselves, every so often a goalie has a game like that, and they'll have to live with it. But of greater concern, is that HJK only have eleven points from 8 home matches this year.

Highlights of HJK 0-0 Jaro

HJK are still top, only on goal difference. They have 27 points from fifteen games, a GD of +13. Jaro are seventh, with nineteen points from 14 matches.

Inter 0-2 IFK Mariehamn

Inter's struggle's continue - five games now without a goal. A stunning goal from Niko Kukka after thirteen minutes, was followed by another goal for top scorer Dever Orgill just before the break. Mariehamn's Patrick Byskata received a straight red card for hacking at Pim Bouwman with 15 minutes to go, but the game ended 0-2.

Highlights of Inter 0-2 IFK Mariehamn

FC Inter are tenth in the table, with seventeen points from fifteen games. Mariehamn are up to fourth, with 24 points from fifteen matches.

JJK 1-1 TPS

A point gained for JJK, two lost for a TPS side that could have gone a point from the top. A smart finish from Mikko Hyyrynen after thirteen minutes was equalised by a penalty from Jordi van Gelderen.

van Gelderen takes a tumble (photo via Marko Kauko)

Highlights of JJK 1-1 TPS

That result means JJK are now adrift at the bottom, with ten points from fourteen games. TPS are fifth, with 24 points from their 14 matches - although only three points behind HJK and Honka.

KuPS 0-1 Lahti

Lahti strung two wins in a row together for the first time since September - and sentenced KuPS to a depressing defeat. Brazilian striker Rafael scored on a Lahti counter-attack after 37 minutes, and it was the only goal of the game.

Rafael celebrates (photo via Vartaloharhautus)

Highlights of KuPS 0-1 Lahti

KuPS are eighth in the table, with eighteen points from fifteen matches. Lahti have twelve points from 14 games, and are eleventh - just five points behind Inter.

RoPS 0-0 VPS 

VPS missed a chance to go top after drawing a blank at RoPS, who extended their unbeaten home record to six matches.

Bundle! (Photo via Pekka Aho)

 

Highlights of RoPS 0-0 VPS

RoPS are ninth in the table, with seventeen points from fifteen games. VPS are third, 26 points from 14 games, only one point behind HJK and Honka.

Finnish clubs in Europe - who can they play?

Just 30 days after European football for 2012/13 ended with Bayern Munich lifting the European Cup in London, UEFA bring continental club football back to our focus with the draws for the first and qualifying rounds of the Champions League and Europa League.

The hood from the Thunderbirds gets busy

In 2012, Finnish clubs had mixed fortunes - all the Finnish entries to the Europa League won at least one tie, with KuPS making it to the third qualifying round, losing to Bursaspor. HJK got through their second qualifying round tie, but lost to Celtic, before then losing to Athletic Bilbao after dropping into the Europa League.

So in Monday's draw, who could the Finnish clubs draw?

Champions League

HJK Helsinki are competing in the European Cup for the fourth consecutive season, and again enter at the second qualifying round. In each of the previous three editions, they've got past round two, but been eliminated at round three.

Last year's winners Bayern Munich

HJK are seeded in the second round, and their matches will be on the 16/17th and 23rd/24th July. Losing in this round will mean total elimination from Europe.

Second qualifying round

Seeded: BATE Borisov (Belarus), Celtic (Scotland), Steaua Bucureşti (Romania), Viktoria Plzeň (Czech Rep), Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia), Partizan Belgrade (Serbia), Legia Warszawa (Poland), Sheriff (Moldova), NK Maribor (Slovenia), Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia), IF Elfsborg (Sweden), Maccabi Tel-Aviv (Israel), Molde FK (Norway), HJK Helsinki (Finland), FK Ekranas (Lithuania), Neftçi PFK (Azerbaijan), Dinamo Tbilisi (Georgia).

Unseeded: Željezničar Sarajevo (Bosnia), FH (Iceland), Győr (Hungary), The New Saints (Wales), Ludogorets Razgrad (Bulgaria), Sligo Rovers (Ireland), Shakhter Karagandy (Kazakhstan), Skënderbeu (Albania), Birkirkara (Malta), Vardar Skopje (Macedonia), Cliftonville (Northern Ireland), Daugava Daugavpils (Latvia), Sutjeska (Montenegro), Nõmme Kalju (Estonia), CS Fola Esch (Luxembourg).

The two clubs who win in the first round - EB Streymur (Faroes), Tre Penne (San Marino), FC Lusitans (Andorra) or FC Shirak (Armenia) - will also be unseeded.

The draw starts at 1100 BST on Monday. Next year's final will be played in Lisbon.

Europa League

Slightly different - Inter Turku and TPS are seeded in round one, while Fair Play entrants IFK Mariehamn are unseeded. Suomen Cup winners Honka enter in round two, and they will be unseeded.

Last year's winners Chelsea (they know what they are)

The Finnish clubs can't play each other, while Inter and TPS will be unseeded if they make it through to round two. Last year there was an element of regional draws, but UEFA haven't confirmed if this is the case for 2013. The first round is played on 4/11th July, the second round on 18/25th July.

I'll list the seeded and unseeded clubs for each round. There are a lot of names... The winners in the first round effectively take the seeding of their opponent in the following round.

First qualifying round

Seeded: Rosenborg BK (Norway), MŠK Žilina (Slovakia), Levski Sofia (Bulgaria), CSKA Sofia (Bulgaria), Videoton (Hungary), Ventspils (Latvia), Tromsø (Norway), Aktobe (Kazakhstan), Dinamo Minsk (Belarus), St Patrick's Athletic (Ireland), Qarabağ (Azerbaijan), Vojvodina (Serbia), Malmö FF (Sweden), Sarajevo (Bosnia), Astra Ploieşti (Romania), KR Reykjavík (Iceland), F91 Dudelange (Luxembourg), Inter Turku (Finland), Dacia Chisinau (Moldova), Levadia Tallinn (Estonia), Linfield (Northern Ireland), Honvéd (Hungary), Valletta FC (Malta), Differdange 03 (Luxembourg), Liepājas Metalurgs (Latvia), Gefle IF (Sweden), FC Pyunik (Armenia), HŠK Zrinjski (Bosnia), İnter Bakı PİK (Azerbaijan), Skonto Riga (Latvia), FK Sūduva (Lithuania), FC Vaduz (Liechtenstein), Flora Tallinn (Estonia), Xäzär Länkäran FK (Azerbaijan), HB Tórshavn (Faroes), Rudar Pljevlja (Montenegro), TPS (Finland), Breidablik (Iceland).

Unseeded: NK Domžale (Slovenia), Glentoran (Northern Ireland), Metalurg Skopje (Macedonia), Milsami Orhei (Moldova), NK Celje (Slovenia), Torpedo Kutaisi (Georgia), Teteks (Macedonia), Irtysh Pavlodar (Kazakhstan), Jeunesse Esch (Luxembourg), Crusaders (Northern Ireland), Santa Coloma (Andorra), Chikhura Sachkhere (Georgia), VMFD Žalgiris (Lithuania), IFK Mariehamn (Finland), FC Mika (Armenia), ÍBV Vestmannaeyjar (ISL), Čelik Nikšić (Montenegro), Sliema Wanderers (Malta), Hibernians (Malta), Tiraspol (Moldova), Drogheda United (Ireland), Trans Narva (Estonia), Gandzasar (Armenia), Kruoja (Lithuania), Astana (Kazakhstan), KF Laçi (Albania), KS Teuta (Albania), Víkingur (Faroes), Mladost Podgorica (Montenegro), FK Turnovo (Macedonia), Santa Coloma (Andorra), FK Kukësi (Albania), ÍF Fuglafjørdur (Faroes), Bala Town (Wales), Broughton FC/Airbus UK (Wales), Prestatyn Town (Wales), SP La Fiorita (San Marino), AC Libertas (San Marino).

Second qualifying round 

Seeded: Rubin Kazan (Russia), Standard Liège (Belgium), Hapoel Tel-Aviv (Israel), Sparta Praha (Czech Rep), Lech Poznań (Poland), Trabzonspor (Turkey), Aalborg BK (Denmark), Anorthosis Famagusta (Cyprus), Utrecht (Holland), Maccabi Haifa (Israel), Sturm Graz (Austria), Omonia (Cyprus), Chornomorets Odesa (Ukraine), Debreceni (Hungary), Hajduk Split (Croatia), Crvena Zvezda (Serbia), Slovan Liberec (Czech Rep), FC Thun (Switzerland), Śląsk Wrocław (Poland), Xanthi FC (Greece), Shakhtyor Soligorsk (Belarus), IFK Göteborg (Sweden), HNK Rijeka (Croatia), FC Minsk (Belarus), Petrolul Ploieşti (Romania), Pandurii Târgu Jiu (Romania).

Unseeded: FK Senica (Slovakia), GKS Piast Gliwice (Poland), Häcken (Sweden), Hibernian (Scotland), Lokomotiva Zagreb (Croatia), Strømsgodset IF (Norway), FC Honka (Finland), Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia), St Johnstone (Scotland), Beroe Stara Zagora (Bulgaria), Dila Gori (Georgia), NK Široki Brijeg (Bosnia), Jagodina (Serbia), AS Trenčín (Slovakia), IL Hødd (Norway), Derry City (Ireland).

The draw starts at 1200 BST on Monday. Next year's final will be played in Turin.